1

Founding Manager Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Role We're looking for a Founding Product Manager with strong technical chops and AI fluency to drive product execution at Lyv. You'll work directly with our CEO, COO, and CTO - giving you a ...

Advancement Coordinator

Phoenixville, PA · On-site

$19.50 - $26.25/hr

Coordinate monthly reconciliation with Founding Forward and Union Leage accounting staff. Manage and produce reports for both fundraising updates to leadership and for donor recognition. Ensure ...

... managing infrastructure. Growing 8x in ARR since 2022, with a flat team and a high-ownership ... Founding engineer * Founding engineer at ~2 startups * Strong infra background OR exceptional ...

Founding Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

You will work on the highest-priority problems in the company including managing key customer relationships, building out the founding team, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. You're ...

They are seeking a Founding Engineering Manager to lead technical initiatives, shape the direction of their AI products, and mentor other engineers while driving complex projects and maintaining ...

The Founding Product Manager will work directly with the founders to expand the product from its initial US enterprise customers, ensuring a balanced experience for all user types while driving ...

As the Founding Product Manager, you will own core parts of the product, partnering closely with engineering, design, research, and GTM to build a foundational product that drives decision-making ...

Sailor is looking for a Founding Product Manager to join as an early product leader. This is a ground-floor opportunity to define and launch AI-first products from scratch at a startup with extreme ...

Founding Operations

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$120K - $160K/yr

You will work on the highest-priority problems in the company including managing key customer relationships, building out the founding team, and ensuring nothing falls through the cracks. You're ...

Founding Product Manager

New York, NY · On-site

$170K - $250K/yr

You will be GPTZero's first product manager. * Deep understanding of AI-powered products, including ... Jacob (Sr. Founding Eng), top of class at Waterloo, ex-Affirm, Lime, Level and Zynga At GPTZero ...

... managers. As our Founding Frontend Engineer , you'll be the first full-time engineering hire on the frontend, working closely with the founding team to shape the product from the ground up. What You ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Founding Manager information

What is a Founding Manager?

A Founding Manager is one of the earliest leaders or executives in a startup or new company. They are responsible for helping to establish the organization’s vision, culture, and operational foundation. Their duties typically include overseeing daily operations, strategic planning, hiring initial team members, and driving early growth. Founding Managers often work closely with other founders to make critical decisions and set the direction for the company's future. Their role tends to be very hands-on and multifaceted, especially during the company's formative stages.

What does founding manager mean?

A founding manager is a person who is part of the initial leadership team responsible for establishing a new company or department. They often play a key role in shaping the company's strategy, culture, and operations during its early stages and may have responsibilities related to hiring, planning, and securing resources. This role typically requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial skills.

What is the difference between Founding Manager vs Project Manager?

AspectFounding ManagerProject Manager
CredentialsExperience in startup leadership, business developmentProject management certifications (PMP, CAPM), relevant industry experience
Work EnvironmentStartup or new business environment, high uncertaintyCorporate or organizational settings, structured projects
Employer & Industry UsageFounders, startups, new business venturesCompanies across industries managing specific projects
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding leadership roles in startupsManaging projects, timelines, and deliverables

The Founding Manager typically leads new business initiatives, focusing on startup growth and strategic direction, often with entrepreneurial experience. In contrast, a Project Manager oversees specific projects within established organizations, ensuring timely delivery and resource management. While both roles require leadership and organizational skills, the Founding Manager operates in a more dynamic, uncertain environment, whereas the Project Manager works within structured project frameworks.

What is the 70/30 rule in hiring?

The 70/30 rule in hiring suggests that 70% of a candidate's value comes from their skills and experience, while 30% is based on cultural fit and potential. For a Founding Manager, this emphasizes assessing both technical expertise and alignment with company values during the hiring process.

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

High-level executive roles such as CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite positions often have annual compensation exceeding $500,000, especially in large corporations. Additionally, successful entrepreneurs, top-tier investment bankers, and certain specialized medical specialists can earn this level of income, often supplemented by bonuses, stock options, or profit sharing.

What jobs make $1,000,000 a year?

Founding managers or entrepreneurs in successful startups and businesses can earn over $1 million annually through salaries, bonuses, and equity. High-level executives such as CEOs and CFOs of large corporations also often reach this income level, especially with stock options and performance incentives. These roles typically require extensive experience, leadership skills, and often involve significant risk and responsibility.

What are some unique challenges a Founding Manager might face when building an early-stage team?

As a Founding Manager, you’ll often be tasked with assembling a team from the ground up, which can be both exciting and challenging. One common hurdle is recruiting and retaining top talent with limited resources and minimal brand recognition. You’ll also need to wear multiple hats, balancing strategic planning with hands-on execution, while fostering a collaborative culture in a fast-paced, uncertain environment. Flexibility, resilience, and strong communication skills are crucial for navigating these challenges and setting the foundation for long-term success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Founding Manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Founding Manager, you need strong leadership, strategic planning, and business development skills, often backed by entrepreneurial experience or a degree in business management. Familiarity with startup tools such as project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello), CRM platforms, and basic financial systems is highly beneficial. Exceptional communication, resilience, and adaptability are crucial soft skills for navigating uncertainty and motivating early teams. These qualities enable a Founding Manager to drive growth, build a cohesive team, and successfully launch and scale new ventures.
More about Founding Manager jobs
What cities are hiring for Founding Manager jobs? Cities with the most Founding Manager job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Founding jobs? The most popular types of Founding jobs are:
What states have the most Founding Manager jobs? States with the most job openings for Founding Manager jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Founding Manager jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Founding Manager jobs are:
Infographic showing various Founding Manager job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 93% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution.

Founding Product Manager

People Culture Talent

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago


Job description

Job Summary:
People Culture Talent is recruiting for a Series A AI infrastructure company seeking a Founding Product Manager. The role involves defining product strategy, engaging with customers for insights, and guiding product development from concept to launch while collaborating closely with engineering teams.
Responsibilities:
• Define and drive the roadmap. Make sure engineering investment is pointed at the right problems.
• Talk to customers directly and often. Surface the patterns that should shape product direction.
• Balance customer feedback, technical constraints, and business goals. Make the call and document the reasoning.
• Connect engineering, leadership, and go-to-market. Keep priorities aligned as the company scales.
• Guide initiatives from concept to launch. Stay close to the work without micromanaging it.
• Track competitive dynamics and industry trends.
• Stand up the product processes, planning rhythms, and communication structures that don't exist yet.
Qualifications:
Required:
• 4+ years of product management experience in B2B SaaS, developer tools, infrastructure, or enterprise software
• Experience working directly with engineering teams to ship technical products
• Strong customer discovery instincts — you find signal in conversations, not just data
• Technical fluency — you can engage credibly with engineers on architecture and implementation tradeoffs
• Excellent written communication; decisions travel in writing on an async-first team
• A data-informed approach to prioritization — you can defend your calls
Preferred:
• Experience with APIs, integrations, or infrastructure products is a strong plus
Company:
We partner with investors, founders, and ambitious teams at pivotal moments of growth, helping them build the people, talent, and leadership infrastructure required to scale with confidence. Founded in 2023, the company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA, US, , with a team of 2-10 employees. The company is currently Early Stage.